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Sakari

♂ Boy

Pronounced sah-KAH-ree /sɑːˈkɑːri/High

Meaning: Finnish form of Zacharias/Zachary, from Hebrew Zekharyah meaning God has remembered or remembered by GodHigh

In 30 seconds: Sakari is the Finnish form of Zachary, from Hebrew meaning God has remembered. Flowing and melodic, it is a traditional Finnish masculine name with a quietly spiritual meaning rooted in the Hebrew Bible.
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Origin HighFinnish, Hebrew
MeaningFinnish form of Zacharias/Zachary, from Hebrew Zekharyah meaning God has remembered or remembered by God
U.S. rank (2024)#3080 ↗ Rising
2024 U.S. births40 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2024
Total births (all-time)≈ 264

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202419972024

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Sakari is a traditional Finnish given name, the local adaptation of the Biblical Zechariah (Hebrew Zekharyah), meaning God has remembered. In the Hebrew Bible, Zechariah was a prophet whose book forms part of the Minor Prophets; the name was also borne by the father of John the Baptist in the New Testament. Christianity spread Biblical names throughout Europe, and Finnish adapted Zacharias as Sakari.

Sakari has been used in Finland for centuries and remains a recognized if somewhat old-fashioned Finnish male name today. Notable Finnish bearers include Sakari Topelius (1818–1898), a beloved Finnish author and poet known for Finnish fairy tales and the national epic tradition. The name projects a gentle, northern European character combined with deep biblical heritage.

Did you know? Finland has a rich tradition of name days (nimipäivät), and Sakari shares its name day on November 6 with Sakari's Finnish equivalents — a cultural tradition dating back to medieval church calendars.
Overall data confidence 90%
Hanks, Hardcastle & Hodges, Oxford Dictionary of First Names (2006) — Zechariah/Zachary entryFinnish Population Register Centre name data — Sakari usage in Finland

Variations

ZacharyZechariahZackariasSakarias

Nicknames

SakaKari

Famous Bearers

  • ★Sakari Topelius (1818–1898)
    Finnish author, poet, and journalist beloved for his fairy tales and his contributions to Finnish national literature.

If you like Sakari…

Zachary— the English equivalent of the same Hebrew name
Mattias— Finnish/Scandinavian biblical name of the same tradition
Aleksi— Finnish form of a Greek biblical name with same Scandinavian feel
Mikael— Scandinavian/Finnish biblical name of similar heritage

Frequently Asked

What does the name Sakari mean?

Sakari means God has remembered, as the Finnish form of the Hebrew name Zechariah.

How do you pronounce Sakari?

Sakari is pronounced sah-KAH-ree, with three syllables and stress on the middle syllable.

Is Sakari a boy or girl name?

Sakari is used as a boys name in Finland.

How popular is Sakari?

Sakari is a traditional Finnish name with steady historical use in Finland, though rare outside Scandinavian contexts.